As Meta confirmed to Platformer in early March:

“We’re exploring a standalone decentralized social community for sharing textual content updates. We imagine there’s a possibility for a separate area the place creators and public figures can share well timed updates about their pursuits.”

Which, after all, sounds very Twitter-esque, and the hypothesis has been that the venture, initially codenamed ‘P92’, can be designed to go after Twitter cast-offs, who’re looking for an alternate amid the varied modifications on the app underneath new proprietor Elon Musk.

Now, that venture appears to be transferring forward, with Meta’s new ‘Barcelona’ text-based social app slowly taking form.

As you possibly can see on this picture, shared by app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi, the separate app is now being pitched as ‘Instagram in your ideas’, not less than on this inside prototype. That launch date can be only a placeholder at this stage – we don’t know when it could be launched – however the idea seems to be a text-based feed of posts, which goals to faucet into the rising recognition of personal messaging, in a extra expanded, accessible format.

In some methods, it sounds much like Instagram’s just lately added ‘Channels’ characteristic, which permits public figures to broadcast messages to their followers.

With extra dialogue shifting to messaging chats, versus folks posting in public feeds, Channels is designed to lean into this, offering a extra non-public, intimate dialogue interface for creators and their followers.

Barcelona sounds related, although in a devoted app, with customers in a position to comply with others and keep on high of their textual content updates.

Right here’s what we all know in regards to the Barcelona venture up to now:

• Barcelona will likely be a separate app, which can use your Instagram credentials to log in
• As you possibly can see within the above screenshots, Barcelona may even use your Instagram ID as your username within the new app
• The utmost size for Barcelona posts will likely be 500 characters
• Barcelona will likely be decentralized, although it’s not fully clear what which means in a Meta context as but

And it does certainly look like transferring alongside, which is particularly fascinating while you additionally contemplate the quantity of job cuts and inside rationalization underway at Meta extra broadly.

That implies that Meta sees important potential right here. And as Musk continues to spark angst at Twitter, there’s positively a need amongst many customers for an alternate, as tough as it is going to be to usurp the short-form content material chief.

The problem right here is that the majority companies are already aligned with Twitter, and are accustomed to sharing updates there. To determine a real various, you want numerous present Twitter customers emigrate to a brand new app, and solely then wouldn’t it be really invaluable, with the identical key Twitter customers posting within the new area.

That’ll take time to determine, however possibly, through the use of its scale, Meta is in a greater place than others to construct the subsequent factor, that’ll see mass adoption and scale.

It’s nonetheless a manner off, and we solely have just a few particulars as but, however it’s fascinating to notice the progress.

We’ve requested Meta for more information on the venture, and we’ll replace this publish if/once we hear again.